Miracle workers keep World Cup dream alive

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

- Brendan Gallagher

What’s happening here?

It’s June 17, 1995 and two splendid cleaning ladies are starting a desperate clean-up operation at King’s Park, Durban after an unexpected monsoon hit the ground on the morning of South Africa’s much anticipated World Cup semi-final against France. Fans had been flocking to sun-kissed Durban all week and although there was a weather system tracking north eastwards far out to sea there had been no forecast of the Biblical downpour that was to hit Durban.

What’s the story behind the picture?

South Africa were building a head of steam at RWC1995 after three straight wins in their Pool followed by a 40-14 victory over Western Samoa in an explosive quarter-final at Ellis Park. More than that, the return to the tournament of poster boy Chester Williams against Western Samoa could not have gone better with the one black player in the Boks squad scoring four tries. Suddenly the claim of ‘one nation one team’ really meant something. It was unquestionably the moment when black South Africa dialled into the World Cup and it became real. The next two weeks, potentially, could move beyond sport and become something much more substantial.

What happened next?